Vol. 5, Issue 4 - Yokota Air Base Home



Retiree Activities OfficeYokota AB, JapanNewsletterRetiree Activities OfficeYokota AB, JapanNewsletterVol. 5, Issue 4Volunteers Assisting the Retiree CommunitySeptember/October 2019A publication of the Yokota Retiree Activities Office (RAO) whose mission is to support the base commander in providing information and assistance to military retirees, their family members, and surviving spouses residing in the local area. Articles appearing in this newsletter are compiled from various government sources. Information has been edited and reprinted for the benefit of our retiree population. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information herein, no absolute guarantee of accuracy or currency can be given nor should be assumed.2384371565962For healthy older adults, new shingles vaccine is worth the wait: Availability of the new shingles vaccine is improving across the Military Health System, according to Defense Health Agency Immunization Healthcare. The vaccine, Shingrix, is recommended for healthy adults 50 and older to prevent the painful skin rash that can have debilitating long-term effects for older people.Who’s at risk for getting shingles? "Anyone who’s had the chickenpox,” said retired Air Force Col. David Hrncir, an allergist-immunologist at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.A virus called varicella zoster causes shingles. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox clears, the virus stays dormant in the body. The virus may reactivate many years later as shingles. It's not clear what causes this eruption, said Hrncir, who's also medical director of Central Region Vaccine Safety Hub, Immunization Healthcare Division.An earlier shingles vaccine was introduced in 2006. That vaccine was for people 60 and older when it first came out. Further, it was only about 70 percent effective in offering full protection against the virus, he said.'Those who had the old vaccine will benefit from getting the new one,” Hrncir said. “Also, shingles can recur. So even if you’ve already had shingles, get the new vaccine.”The new vaccine is a two-dose series, with the second dose administered anywhere from two to six months after the first. For our retirees here in the Yokota area, who are interested in getting the new shingles vaccination contact the 374th MDG Immunization Clinic to confirm availability of supplies. (Source:Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act:As a result of Public Law 116-23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, Blue Water Navy Veterans are now entitled to presumption of service connection for illnesses related to Agent Orange Exposure. Veterans and surviving spouses can now file for benefits if the Veteran was onboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam or served on a vessel not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia.385103365051The Act was signed into law on 25 June 2019, and will become effective 1 January2020. For more information, please review the Blue Water Navy Fact Sheet and VA's Agent Orange webpage. (Source: VA OCONUS Connection)When should you start collecting Social Security benefits?: For military retirees not yet collecting Social Security Benefits, what is the best age to start receiving benefits?Social Security benefits are designed so that you get your full benefit if you wait until what Social Security calls your full retirement age. That’s 66 for people born before 1954 or earlier and rises gradually every year. For those born in 1960 or later, full retirement is 67.The longer you wait the higher you month check will1 of 4be. If you started at full retirement age you would get100 percent of your full benefit.208517103453Here is a list of the early retirement cuts if your full retirement age is 66:Age 62 a cut of 25%, Age 63 a cut of 20%, Age 64 a cut of 13.3 %, Age 65 a cut of 6.%Here is a list of the early retirement cuts if your full retirement age is 67Age 62 cut of 30%, Age 63 a cut of 25%, Age 64 a cut of 20%, Age 65 a cut of 13.3%, Age 66 a cut of 6.7%Another thing to consider is whether or not you want to wait past your full retirement age to start collecting benefits. You can wait until age 70 to start . For every year you wait past full retirement age you will get an additional 8% in benefits.Your personal financial situation and other factors such as health, etc. need to be considered when deciding when to start taking social security benefits. There are numerous calculators available on the internet and at to help you decide. (Source: various)Air Force Legal Assistance Website:Have a personal legal assistance question? Need a will or power of attorney? The Air Force Legal Assistance Website (https:// aflegalassistance.law.af.mil) may be the resource for you.The sites features include:Legal Topics: Short papers on common legal assistance topics such as wills and family law issues. It also contains links to other helpful sites.Legal Worksheets: Access to online questionnaires for wills, advance medical directives, and powers of attorney.Online Survey: Following a visit to the legal office, clients are encouraged to provide feedback concerning the professionalism and helpfulness ofour legal professionals.If you need a will, the website will help you obtain one quickly. Eligible legal assistance beneficiaries can complete the will worksheet online. In return, they will receive a ticket number. Make an appointment with your local Air Force legal office for a legal assistance appointment and notify the receptionist about your ticket number. Your information will be retrieved from the secure website and you will be able to review your legal documents during your legal assistance appointment.Getting a power of attorney is also quicker. Simply fill out the power of attorney application on-line and receive your ticket number. Take the ticket number to your local legal office and have your power of attorney pulled up and printed for your signature.While the website increases convenience for clients, everyone should note the following:The site is designed for eligible legal assistance beneficiaries, including active duty and reserve component members, retirees, and rmation on the website is for educational and informational purposes only. The website cannot replace consultation with your local JAG, and you should never rely solely on the website when making decisions.Clients will not have the ability to print a legal document (will, power of attorney, etc.) from the website. Clients will need to visit the legal office and provide their ticket numbers to obtain their legal documents.The website is designed for client convenience, but no one is required to use the website prior to visiting the legal office. (Source: afjag.af.mil)Yokota Military Retiree Association (YMRA):The YMRAwill hold its next two monthly breakfast meetings on the 7th of September and the 5th of October at 0900 in the enlisted club dining room. These meetings are open to all military retirees regardless of branch of service, their spouses, and widows of retirees.Breakfast will be served until 0830. The business side of things starts at 0900.2 of 4YOKOTA AIR BASE JAPANESE-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL 201901395400Dates: September 14th (Saturday) and 15th (Sunday) - Festival hours: 09:00 - 21:00 both days - Open and free to the public - Entrance to the festival is through Gate 5 (Supply gate). Gate 5 will remain open for admittance until 20:00. Those of you who may be thinking of bringing guests should bear in mind that entrance to non DoD ID card holders is through Gate 5 only. There will be food and other vendor booths, US and Japanese aircraft displays, stage entertainment, fireworks on Sunday night. The below flyer lists further information as to what can and cannot be brought into the festival area and to any ID requirements for the non DoD general public. Further information can be found at yokota.af.mil or by calling the festival information line at DSN: 225-2866. From off base: 042-552-2511, extension 52866RAO Contact Information:Located: Building 535, (Airman & Family Readiness Center), Room 108Office hours: 0900-1500 Monday through Friday. Closed U.S. holidays and family days.Telephone: DSN: 225-8324 Telephone from off base: (042) 552-2510 ext. 58324Voice mail: Leave a message if calling after normal operating hours and we will get back with anizational E-mail: yokota.rao@us.af.milURL: The RAO has a web page at: yokota.af.mil where you can find previous editions of our newsletters and links to other sites that may be of interest.Facebook: The purpose of this page is to post information that we feel is of immediate interest to the Retiree Community. Note: We always appreciate hearing from you concerning the content you see on this page. However, if you have a specific question about something we would appreciate you sending it to our organizational e-mail address listed above instead of using the messaging function on Facebook. ................
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